Moroni, Ether, and Evil Fruit

The account of the Garden in Genesis states that "the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which I, the Lord God, had made" (Genesis 3:1). The word that the King James translation renders as "subtle" more accurately means "crafty" or "cunning," as reflected in more recent translations, such as the New Revised Standard Version.

Moroni, in his account of the Jaredites, says that the daughter of Jared was "exceedingly expert" (Ether 8:8). The word "expert" has the connotation of being skilled, clever, experienced, and knowing how to get things done. The wording invites the reader to compare the daughter of Jared to the serpent who enticed Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit, bringing death into the world. In Moroni’s account, Jared’s wicked daughter is the agent who introduces a deadly evil into Jaredite society.

Personal application

Jared’s daughter inspired her wicked father to form a murderous secret combination to overthrow the kingdom of his father Omer. Moroni’s use of the words "exceedingly expert" suggests that she was knowledgeable and clever; but she used these skills to introduce an evil plan among the people. Moroni’s account shows how skills and cleverness without righteousness can be used in ways that lead to misery and awful consequences within families and society. As you read this account, ponder how you can use the talents and abilities the Lord has given you for good and not evil purposes.

Genesis and Moses	Ether
And now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which I, the Lord God, had made (Genesis 3:1).	Now the daughter of Jared being exceedingly expert (Ether 8:8).

In Genesis, when the woman saw that the tree of knowledge of good and evil "was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat" (Genesis 3:6). In the Ether story, Jared’s daughter introduces her plan as follows:

And now, therefore, let my father send for Akish, the son of Kimnor; and behold, I am fair, and I will dance before him, and I will please him, that he will desire me to wife; wherefore if he shall desire of thee that ye shall give unto him me to wife, then shall ye say: I will give her if ye will bring unto me the head of my father, the king. . . .

When Jared had sent for Akish, the daughter of Jared danced before him that she pleased him, insomuch that he desired her to wife (Ether 8:10-11).

The evil plan described in Ether evokes words that echo Eve’s desire for the fruit of the tree in the story of the Fall. However, in this case, the plan of Jared’s daughter sets up another fall, and by implication, death and destruction for Jared, Akish, and their people, through the introduction of secret combinations to murder and gain power. The evil of unrestrained desire is shown in the case of Akish, whose desire for Jared’s daughter leads him to betray any integrity he once had and attempt the murder of Omer, who "was a friend to Akish" (Ether 8:11).

Personal application

In Genesis, the words "pleasant" and "desired" are connected with the temptation of the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge, of which Eve partook and gave to her husband, resulting in the death of mankind. Moroni uses similar words to describe the introduction of secret combinations among the Jaredites. In this case, another woman, Jared’s daughter, conspires with her father to cause another man, her future husband Akish, to use evil knowledge in a wicked, murderous plan, which would result in the death and destruction of most of that people.

As you read the story of the plot of Akish and Jared’s family, ponder how the principles and covenants of the gospel of Jesus Christ can help you to control your passions and desires, providing safety in your life.

Genesis and Moses	Ether
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food (Genesis 3:6).	And seeing the sorrows of her father, thought to devise a plan whereby she could redeem the kingdom unto her father (Ether 8:8).
And that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat (Genesis 3:6).	And now, therefore, let my father send for Akish, the son of Kimnor; and behold, I am fair, and I will dance before him, and I will please him, that he will desire me to wife; wherefore if he shall desire of thee that ye shall give unto him me to wife. . . . When Jared had sent for Akish, the daughter of Jared danced before him that she pleased him, insomuch that he desired her to wife (Ether 8:10-11).

The account of the Fall of Man in the Book of Moses provides additional words that are not found in the Genesis story. The Moses account states, "And Satan put it into the heart of the serpent, (for he had drawn away many after him,) ... for he knew not the mind of God, wherefore he sought to destroy the world"(Moses 4:6). Although the plan of our Heavenly Father prepared a way for our redemption from transgression, the Moses account explains that the goal of the devil in bringing a knowledge of evil into the world was to destroy man by causing him to rebel against God and His commandments.

In his account in the book of Ether, Moroni explains how secret combinations were introduced among the Jaredites. He states that, "It was the daughter of Jared who put it into his heart to search up these things of old; and Jared put it into the heart of Akish; wherefore, Akish administered it unto his kindred and friends, leading them away by fair promises to do whatsoever thing he desired" (Ether 8:17). The Moses account shows a transmission from Satan to the serpent, and from the serpent to Eve and Adam---leading to transgression and death.

In Ether, evil knowledge is transmitted from Jared’s daughter to her father, and then to Akish, who brings the evil and murderous plan to fruition. Notably, as with the event in the garden, this leads to the death of Jared, and Akish, and their kingdom (Ether 8:21; 9:12). This great destruction was brought about when this series of individuals allowed evil to be put into their hearts. In contrast to the followers of Akish, the righteous King Omer and those who followed him were protected and preserved from the wicked plans of their enemies.

Personal application

Moroni’s words tie the Ether story to the Fall of Man to emphasize the dangers of allowing evil things to enter and remain in one’s heart. By refusing to allow such things to remain and have place in our hearts and minds, we can avoid what happened to the Jaredites. As you read the account in Ether, ponder how the gospel of Jesus Christ and its sacred covenants can strengthen and protect you from agents of the adversary, who strive to put things into our hearts that can destroy our peace and happiness.

Genesis and Moses	Ether
And Satan put it into the heart of the serpent, (for he had drawn away many after him,) and he sought also to beguile Eve, for he knew not the mind of God, wherefore he sought to destroy the world (Moses 4:6).	And it was the daughter of Jared who put it into his heart to search up these things of old; and Jared put it into the heart of Akish; wherefore, Akish administered it unto his kindred and friends, leading them away by fair promises to do whatsoever thing he desired (Ether 8:17).
And he sought also to beguile Eve (Moses 4:6).	Who beguiled our first parents (Ether 8:25).

In the Moses account of the Fall of Man, the Lord commanded Adam and Eve, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but remember that I forbid it" (Moses 3:17). The last phrase does not appear in the Genesis version; however, Moroni does reference it in his warning about the dangers of secret combinations. Moroni says, "For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations, neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things hath forbidden it from the beginning of man" (Ether 8:19). Secrets combinations and all the evils associated with them are forbidden, just as the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil was forbidden to man in the beginning.

Personal application

God forbade man to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; but Adam and Eve partook, an act that introduced them to death. In mortality, we encounter both good and evil in our lives. The story of the Jaredites teaches the dangers of secret combinations, which are promoted by the adversary to those who hearken to him. It often takes faith or trust in God to choose to act in righteousness, rather than follow the devil. As you read the Book of Ether, ponder how you can develop greater trust in your Redeemer and strength to stand for and share what is good.

Genesis and Moses	Ether
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but remember that I forbid it (Moses 3:17).	For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations, neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things hath forbidden it from the beginning of man (Ether 8:19).
Ye shall not touch it lest ye die (Genesis 3:3).	And they have caused the destruction of this people of whom I am now speaking and also the destruction of the people of Nephi (Ether 8:21).

In the scriptural account of the Fall, we learn that by partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, the eyes of the man and the woman were opened. "For God doth know that in the day that ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as the gods, knowing good and evil." The tree was "to be desired to make one wise," and after they partook, "the eyes of them both were opened" (Genesis 3:6-7).

After describing the Satanic introduction of secret combinations among the Jaredites, Moroni warns the latter-day reader of the Book of Mormon: "Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you" (Ether 8:23). Moroni’s words show that he wants to open our eyes and give us a knowledge of evil combinations so that we can be aware of them and protect ourselves against their dangers.

Personal application

Moroni uses words that remind us of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and its qualities to show us how to be wise. God-given wisdom, provided through the Book of Mormon in our day, alerts us beforehand to the dangers these evils pose to families, societies, and nations. As you read the Book of Mormon, ponder which revelations from God through the Book of Mormon and latter-day prophets, seers, and revelators have been given to help you be aware of and avoid contemporary dangers.

Genesis and Moses	Ether
For God doth know that in the day that ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as the gods, knowing good and evil. The tree was . . . to be desired to make one wise … And the eyes of them both were opened (Genesis 3:6-7).	Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you (Ether 8:23).

In Genesis, after Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, the Lord said, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15). Moroni’s account of Jared, his daughter, Akish, and his children draws upon the background of the Lord’s prophecy to Adam and Eve in the biblical story.

In Ether, after Jared and his daughter introduced secret combinations, enmity abounded. Shortly after Jared obtained the kingdom, Akish "applied unto those whom he had sworn by the oath of the ancients, and they obtained the head of his father-in-law, as he sat upon his throne, giving audience to his people" (Ether 9:5). After killing his father-in-law, "Akish began to be jealous of his son" and killed him (Ether 9:7). There followed a civil war between Akish and his other sons (Ether 9:10) until everyone in the kingdom was dead, except for a few (Ether 9:12). Moroni’s account shows that the adoption of evil practices did not lead to happiness for the Jaredites, but produced greater enmity, family strife, and eventual destruction.

Personal application

By drawing upon the words spoken by the Lord to Adam and Eve, Moroni shows how evil, when allowed to spread, breeds enmity, jealousy, and divisions in people, families, and nations. As you read the Book of Mormon, ponder how the gospel of Jesus Christ can help you to act in ways that eliminate evil and other sources of contention from your life.

Genesis and Moses	Ether
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; and it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel (Genesis 3:15).	Akish sought and "obtained the head" of his father-in-law Jared (Ether 9:5). Akish subsequently became jealous of his sonand had him killed (Ether 9:7). His kingdom was destroyed by civil war (Ether 9:12).